Recommendation 3

DLUHC and DWP cannot assess and therefore resolve the problems with supported housing as they have no reliable data about the sector. The data on the sector held by DLUHC and DWP is incomplete and out of date despite the department and its predecessor departments being aware of the issues for many years. They intend to improve their understanding of the sector through the snapshot which will include data on the size and composition of the sector, costs, current and future supply and demand. This will update the last snapshot which was done in 2016. To keep its understanding relevant in the future, DLUHC is relying on the new duties that the Bill imposes to get local authorities to provide it with annual data. These duties include local authorities’ strategic reviews of supported housing which DLUHC expects will help local authorities assess demand and supply. It also expects that local authorities will extract information through the new licensing schemes they can set up for providers of supported housing. There is currently no timetable for the local housing strategies to be completed and as the licensing schemes are not mandatory, there is a risk that DLUHC’s data will remain inconsistent and incomplete. DWP is also working with local authorities to get a better picture of housing benefit claims for specified housing (a type of supported housing which is paid for with housing benefit). It has given local authorities £4.79 million to review all their existing Housing Benefit claims to identify and record if claims are for specified accommodation and, if so, what type. Recommendation 3: In the Treasury Minute response to this report, DLUHC and DWP should summarise what they are currently doing, along with plans for future work, to radically improve and keep up to date, their data on demand, supply, and costs of supported housing while minimising the burden on local authorities.